Survey shows nearly two-thirds of local authorities in England have cut care for the disabled and elderly

DisabledGo News Blog reports:

Nearly two-thirds of local authorities in England have reduced their spending on support in the community for disabled and older people, according to a survey commissioned by a committee of MPs.

The survey, carried out for the Commons health select committee as part of its review of public spending in health and social care, found budgets for community support fell by nearly 10 per cent this year, compared with 2010-11.

At the same time, charges for users of care services were set to rise in 2011-12 from 13 per cent to 13.5 per cent of the total social care budget.

Across the 67 councils that responded to the survey, social care budgets fell by an average of 1.1 per cent between 2010/11 and 2011/12.

The report concludes that – despite “government assurances” – local authorities are “having to raise eligibility criteria in order to maintain social care services to those in greatest need”.

It adds: “The overall picture of social care is of a service that is continuing to function by restricting eligibility, by making greater savings on other local authority functions and by forcing down the price it pays to contractors for services.”

It concludes that total spending on social care fell by at least 1.5 per cent in 2011-12, although a survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services suggested spending on adult social care had fallen by 6.8 per cent...